Page:A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More.djvu/130

40 3. And these Miraculous effects, as there is nothing more cogent if they could be believed, so there is nothing more hard to the Atheist to believe then they are. For Religionists having for pious purposes, as they pretend, forged so many false Miracles to gull and spoil the credulous people; they have thereby with the Atheist taken away all belief of those which are true. And the childish and superstitious fear of Spirits in Melancholick persons, who create strange Monsters to themselves and terrible Apparitions in the dark, hath also helped them with a further evasion, to impute all Spectres and strange Apparitions to mere Melancholy and disturbed Phansie.

4. But that there should be so universal a fame and fear of that which never was, nor is, nor can be ever in the world, is to me the greatest Miracle of all.

For if there had not been at some time or other true Miracles (as indeed there ought to be, if the Faculties of Man, who so easily listens to and allows of such things, be not in vain) it is very improbable that Priests and cunning Deluders of the people would have ever been able so easily to impose upon them by their false. As the Alchymist would never goe about to sophisticate Metalls, and then put them off for true Gold and Silver, but that it is acknowledged that there is such a thing as true Gold and Silver in the world. In like manner therefore as there is an endeavour of deluding the people with false Miracles, so it is a sign there have been and may be those that are true.

5. But you'l say there is a Touchstone whereby we may discern the truth of Metalls, but that there is nothing whereby we may discover the truth of Miracles recorded every where in History. But I answer, There is, and it is this.

First, if what is recorded was avouched by such persons who had no end nor interest in avouching such things.

Secondly, if there were many Eye-witnesses of the same Matter.

Thirdly and lastly, if these things which are so strange and miraculous leave any sensible effect behind them.

Though I will not acknowledge that all those Stories are false that want these conditions, yet I dare affirm that it is mere humour and sullenness in a man to reject the truth of those that have them; for it is to believe nothing but what he seeth himself: From whence it will follow, that he is to read nothing of History, for there is neither pleasure nor any usefulness of it, if it deserve no belief.

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